Custodian Land Scam: Divisional Commissioner Jammu Receives Final Report, Pressure Mounts for Decisive Action on 523 Kanal Fraudulent Mutations

After Jammu Jottings’ Expose, Tehsildar Bhalwal Submits Full Details; Public Demands Immediate Cancellation of Illegal Allotments and Accountability for Lingering Nexus

• Following the Jammu Jottings’ expose of the massive Custodian Land Scam, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu has taken immediate action, with Tehsildar Bhalwal, submitting a final, detailed report on the fraudulent mutations.
• The report, dated November 17, 2025, includes crucial register entries pertaining to 523 Kanals 11 Marlas of land flagged as “illegal and an outcome of fraud” by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), now placing the ball firmly in the Divisional Commissioner’s court for decisive action.

MOHIT MEHRA

Jammu, November 21, 2025: Following the relentless expose of the massive Custodian Land Scam by Jammu Jottings, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu has initiated prompt action, receiving a comprehensive final report from Tehsildar Bhalwal. This crucial development now places the onus squarely on the Divisional Commissioner to take decisive steps against the widespread fraudulent mutations of over 523 Kanals 11 Marlas of precious Custodian Land that have been mired in bureaucratic delays and alleged corruption.

The immediate administrative response was triggered by Jammu Jottings’ hard-hitting reports highlighting how this extensive land scam, previously flagged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) as “illegal and an outcome of fraud,” had been stalled by inexplicable delays within the Revenue Department. As a direct consequence, the Divisional Commissioner’s office, through Assistant Commissioner (Central) Angrez Singh, JKAS, formally communicated with the Deputy Custodian General, Jammu, Provincial Rehabilitation Officer, vide letter No. 502/4883/Advisory/90/J/25/1023 dated November 13, 2025. This communication sought detailed information regarding Advisory No. 90/2024 (Verification No. Central 01/2024), which specifically pertains to the fraudulent mutations.

In a significant development, Tehsildar Bhalwal, has now submitted the final, comprehensive report to the Divisional Commissioner through the Assistant Commissioner (Central), vide No: TB/OQ/2025-26/1506-8 dated November 17, 2025. Sources confirm that this report meticulously details all relevant information and includes crucial register entries related to the controversial mutations, providing the complete administrative record required for further action.

This expedited response from the Divisional Commissioner’s office contrasts sharply with the shocking bureaucratic delays previously uncovered by Jammu Jottings.

Further intensifying the scandal, the Tehsildar Bhalwal’s RTI reply (No: -TB/RT1/2025-26/58 Dated: November 13, 2025) astonishingly revealed that while 10 mutations under Section 3A and 1 mutation under 254-C were attested in Patwar Halqa Bhalwal between May 26, 2017, and December 14, 2019 – a period coinciding with Patwari Pranav Dev Singh’s tenure – the department could not identify the signatories. The reply stated, “in Patwar Halqa Bhalwal there is no by name stamp put on the mutations, signature needs to be verified.” This stark admission, coupled with the ACB’s earlier advisory for cancellation of specific mutations (e.g., 1459/J, 1215/J, 2490/J), strongly suggested a deliberate attempt to evade accountability and pointed towards an alleged deep-seated nexus within the Revenue Department.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated its own parallel investigation, continuously summoning individuals involved in the scam, signalling the gravity of the fraud and the potential for a wider net of accountability.

With the detailed report now formally submitted, the “ball is squarely in the court of the Divisional Commissioner Jammu.” The public, having closely followed the Jammu Jottings’ expose, is watching intently to see whether these crucial files will now “eat dust” or if decisive action will finally be taken. The demand is clear: immediate cancellation of all illegal mutations and allotments, a thorough inquiry to identify those responsible for the unattributed signatures, and strict accountability for any officials involved in perpetuating this massive land fraud and obstructing justice. The administration’s credibility and its stated commitment to “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” now hinge on the swift and transparent resolution of this burgeoning scandal.